National Historic Landmark

Battle of Rhode Island Site

Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island
Listed
May 29, 1974
Type
Site
Period
Listed
Ref No.
74002054

About this property

The Battle of Rhode Island Site is the partially preserved location of the Battle of Rhode Island, fought August 29, 1778 during the American Revolutionary War. The battle took place in the town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, located on Aquidneck Island north of Newport, and was the only major action of the war that took place in Rhode Island. It was also significant as the only battle of the war in which an entirely segregated unit of African-American soldiers fought. At the time of the action, the 1st Rhode Island Regiment consisted of companies of locally recruited African Americans and Native Americans with white officers. The two main areas associated with the battle were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.

Location

Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island
41.60027, -71.25856

Categories

MILITARYBLACK
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Battle of Rhode Island Site

This page lists Battle of Rhode Island Site. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Battle of Rhode Island Site report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Borden Farm
Industrial
0.9 mi
Prudence Island Lighthouse
Industrial
2.3 mi
Hog Island Shoal Lighthouse
Industrial
2.3 mi
Wreck Sites of H.M.S. Cerberus and H.M.S. Lark
Listed
2.5 mi
Mount Hope Bridge
Industrial
2.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Rhode Island (1778)
1778Revolutionary War
2.3 mi
Battle of Rhode Island – American Withdrawal
1778Revolutionary War
2.5 mi
Battle of Rhode Island – Black Regiment Action
1778Revolutionary War
3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Battle of Rhode Island Site listed on the National Register?

Battle of Rhode Island Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 29, 1974.

What type of historic resource is Battle of Rhode Island Site?

Battle of Rhode Island Site is classified as a site in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Battle of Rhode Island Site a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Battle of Rhode Island Site has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Battle of Rhode Island Site?

The period of significance for Battle of Rhode Island Site is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Battle of Rhode Island Site?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Battle of Rhode Island Site will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Newport County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Newport County.

Explore NewportCounty ›

More historic places in Rhode Island

Browse all historic places in Rhode Island.

View Rhode Islandhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Rhode Island history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Rhode Islandhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Battle of Rhode Island Site will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report